Closure



NOV. 5, 1929. v HUTCHINS 1,734,434

CLOSURE Filed Jan. 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l nnnlmnulul mummumun mumunuummunmnum luuuuuummuummnul Q jnvenfo'a Y. Halide/n5.

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Nov. 5, 1929. w. Y. HUTCHINS CLOSURE Filed Jan. 16, 1929 2 Sheets-SheetPatented Nov. 5, 1929 WI LLIAM Y. HUTCHINS, OF KINGSPORT, TENNESSEECLOSURE Application filed January 16, 1929. Serial No. 332,844.

This invention relates to closures and has particular reference toclosures for openings designed to be closed in an air, gas andwatertight manner, and in which the operation of sealing the opening maybe easily, conveniently and quickly performed.

One object of the invention is to provide a closure for openings in lifesaving suits, aviators garments, gas bags ofballoons and other similarreceptacles whereby the opening may be rapidly closed and held closed ina secure manner against leakage of air, Water or gases.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide fastening means whichwill hold the margins of the opening closed against relative openingmovement in any direction and in which a novel construction of doubleclosure fastener and interposed seal are employed to make the closedopening air, gas and water-tight.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which v Figure l is a frontview of a life saving garment showing the application of the inventionthereto, the closure being in open condition.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the clo sure in closed condition.

Figure 3 is a front view of a portion of the garment on an enlargedscale and showing the closure partly closed and partly open.

F igure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, omitting the runner and showingthe outer closure flaps partly broken away to expose the sealing flaps.

Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sections through the closure flaps, sealingflaps and runner and showing, respectively, the arrangement of the flapsin open and closed conditions of the fastener.

Figure 7 is a perspective View of the runner.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing a slight modification.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Flgure 7, showing another modification.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention as applied, forexemplilication, to one type of receptacle, to wit, the acket part of aunion life saving suit for use on shipboard, or a combined flying andlife saving suit for aviators, but it is to be understood that theinvention may be applied to gas bags of balloons or other gas or liquidcontainers, and that, therefore, the word receptacle as used herein isdesigned to apply to any container or enclosing structure havmg anopening to be closed either against the entrance or the escape of water,air, gas, or other liquids or fluids.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a garment of the characterdescribed the jacket portion of which is provided with an open ing 2,the marginal portions 3 and 4 of which are, in accordance with thisinvention, pro vided with pockets or sheaths 5 enclosing sealing strips6 and 7. These strips 6 and 7 may be formed ofa soft compressible andexpansible material, such as soft vulcanized rubber, and such strips maybe vulcanized or cemented by indissoluble cement to the material ofthegarment 1.

Secured at or near their relatively outer edges to each marginal edge 3and 4 are a pair of closing flaps 8 and 9, the inner portions of whichare free and extend parallel with the inner and outer faces of the freeportion of the marginal edge to which they are attached. To the treeportion of each flap 8 and 9 are applied U-shaped metallic cross cleats10 and 11 arranged so as to lie transversely of each side and across thefree v edge of the flap, the said cleats comprising stationary lockingmembers the relatively outer edges of which provide abutment and guideshoulders 12 for eoaction with a movable fastening member or runner 13.As shown, the cleats 10 upon each flap 8 are arranged in alternation orin staggered order with respect to the cleats 11 upon the opposing flap9, and the inner portions of the sets of cleats 10 project beyond thefree edges of the flaps and engage within the spaces between the cleatsof the opposed cleats 11, and vice versa, when the margins and 4 aredrawn together to close the opening 2.

' basically considered, and to the extent of comprising a pair ofclosure flaps and a tapered runner, the flaps having abutments forengagement by the runner, is well known, but,

so far as I am aware,such closure fasteners have heretofore been ofsingle fastener form, that is to say, a single runner has been providedfor c'oaction with sets of abutments on one pair of opposing flaps only,and, in general, located only upon the outer faces of the single pair offlaps. My invention difiers from this prior type of fastener in theprovision of at least two pairs of flaps 8-8, 99 on opposite (outer andinner) sides of the margins 3 and 4, in connection with a double or twinrunner, or other multiple form of runner, for coaction therewith. Myinvention is further distinguished from prior closures of this generalcharacter by the provision of the-sealing stripsfi and 7 for coactionwith the flaps and the runner, as will now be described.

As shown,- therunner 13 is formed of two.

outer plates 14 and two relatively inner plates 15, each outer plate 14:and adjacent inner plate 15 forming a runner, such runners of the doubleor twin runner thus provided respectively cooperating. with the outerand inner pairs of closure flaps 8 and 9. At the top all: the plates areconnected by a bridge 16 carrying-a manipulating ring or member 17, andthe plates are provided with inclined flanges 18 for. engagement withthe shoulders 12 of the cleats 10 and 11. By this construction it willbe seen that the fiapson both sides of the runner, as well as both sidesof each flap, while at the same time the inner pair of plates formguides engaging the sealing strips tion are guided accurately intoengagement and the sets of engaging members hold the connected edgesagainst relative movement in any direction. When, therefore, theopeningis closed it will remain closed against all pressures short of tearingor breaking pressures, and the strength of the construction is such thatit will withstand very great pressures and strains. 'It will be observedthat the edges of the sealing strips pro'ect inwardly beyond the edgesof the aps, as shown in Fig. 5, to such an extent that when the openingis closed the abutting edges of the strips will be held undercompression, as shown in Fig. 6, thus sealing the joint against thepassage of air, water, gas or other liquid orfiuid. As the flaps andstrips are stayed in this position by theconnection of the mulsealing,

tiple sets of engaging members, no gapping can occur as long as theparts remain connected and intact.

' My invention will be found very desirable and advantageous for use inclosing accessopenings where leakage of liquid or fluid is to beprevented for considerable periods, and a type of closure for thispurpose is provided which may be operated simply and very rapidly forclosing and opening actions.

It is to be understoodthat the number of flaps, the runner may beincreased when it sired to increase the security of the fasteningconnection.

While I have shown in the present instance, in its basic form, awell-known type of quickclosing fastener which .may be employed, it isto be understood that the invention is'not limited to this particular"form of fastener,

the advantages of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 8 one of the sealing strips may be provided withagroove 19 to receive a tongue 19 on the edge of the other, and

as shown in Fig. 9 a manipulating hook or like member 17 a may bearranged at the front instead of at the top of the runner.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. A receptacle havingan opening provided with sealing strips along its marginal edges, apair'of closure flaps at each side of the opening and upon oppositesides of each strip, transverse engaging members on eac pair of closureflaps, and a-runner in guided engagement with the sealingstrips and inoperative engagement with the flaps to draw the opposed strips and flapstogether or to force them apart.

2. A receptacle having an opening provided with sealing strips ofelastic material along its' marginal edges, a pair of closure flaps ateach side of the opening and upon opposite sides of each sealin strip,transverse engaging members on eah pair of closure flaps, and a runnerin guided engagement with the sealing strips and in operative engagementwith the flaps to draw the opposed strips and flaps. together or toforce them apart, the said sealing strips having their free edgesarranged so as to be placed under compression'when the strips and flapsare drawn together.

3. A receptacle having an opening provided with sealing strips along itsmarginal edges, a pair of closure flaps at-each side of the opening andupon opposite sides of each sealing strip, each flap having at each sidetransverse engaging members to interengage between the correspondingmembers of the each flap for drawing the strips and flaps together orforcing them apart.

4. A receptacle having an opening provided with sealing strips ofelastic material arranged so as to be placed under compression when thestrips and flaps are drawn together, a pair of closure flaps'at eachside of the opening and upon opposite sides of each sealing strip, eachflap having at each side transverse engaging members to interengagebetween the corresponding members of the opposed flap, and a runner inguided enga ement with the sealing strips and engagea le with theengaging members on both sides of each flap for drawing the strips andflaps t0- gether or forcin them apart.

5. A receptacl e having an opening, twin engaging flaps at each side ofthe opening, transverse engaging members on the twin engaging flaps,sealing means adapted to be brought together upon the closure of theflaps, and a runner having twin operators to engage the flaps and drawthe flaps together or force them apart. 4

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature.

' VJILLIAM Y. HUTCHINS.

